Honorary Academician

Social Sciences:

Date of admission: June 10, 2017

Reply speech: Hon. Dr. Xabier Añoveros Trias de Bes, Doctor of Law

Former President of Uruguay: recognized for promoting economic modernization, regional integration through Mercosur, and for his steadfast defense of democratic and liberal values in Latin America.

Dr. LUIS ALBERTO LACALLE HERRERA

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

  • Law studies at the University of the Republic, Montevideo.
  • Began his journalistic career in 1961 at the now-defunct newspaper Clarín of Montevideo, writing political analysis columns.

POLITICAL CAREER

  • Politician, lawyer and journalist. Member of the National Party (Blanco).
  • Elected Deputy (1971). His term was interrupted by the 1973 coup d’état.
  • Opponent of the military regime (1973–1984). Survived the so-called “poisoned wine plot” (1978).
  • Founder and Secretary General of the National Herrerista Council (1981).
  • Senator after the return to democracy (1984–1989).
  • Presidential candidate for the National Party (1988).
  • Elected President in 1989 with 38% of the vote, bringing the National Party back to power after 23 years.
  • Promoter and signatory of the Treaty of Asunción (1991), which gave rise to MERCOSUR alongside Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
  • Meeting with U.S. President George H. W. Bush (1990), strengthening Uruguay’s foreign policy.

LEGACY AND PRESENT

  • Historical figure of the National Party, active after leaving the presidency.
  • Father of Luis Lacalle Pou, current President of Uruguay (2020–2025).